National Bureau of Investigation

What National Bureau of Investigation does

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is the principal civilian investigative and intelligence agency of the Philippine government, operating under the Department of Justice. Established in 1936, the NBI conducts investigations into major and complex crimes, provides forensic science services, and serves as the country's central authority for international police cooperation via Interpol channels. It also performs regulatory and quasi-judicial functions, most notably the issuance of NBI Clearance certificates, which are required for overseas employment, firearms licensing, and a wide range of employment and licensing transactions in the Philippines.

Operationally, the NBI runs 18 regional offices plus district and satellite offices nationwide, with recent additions in Batanes (2026-06-24) and Kauswagan (2026-06-10) extending reach into previously underserved geographies. Service delivery is anchored on ISO 9001:2015-certified quality management systems and National Privacy Commission registration. Core service lines include: (1) NBI Clearance (fees ranging P115–P415 depending on processing tier), (2) forensic laboratory services (digital, biological, chemical, questioned-documents), (3) intelligence and counterintelligence operations, (4) cybercrime and transnational crime investigation, and (5) international liaison via Interpol and bilateral partnerships.

The agency is funded principally through annual General Appropriations Act allocations disbursed via the DOJ, with supplemental cost-recovery from clearance fees and forensic service charges. The NBI maintains documented partnerships with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Nordic Police Liaison Office, and inter-agency cooperation with the BIR, BOC, and PCG for joint enforcement on financial crimes, smuggling, and maritime security. As a government instrumentality, the NBI does not pursue commercial profitability; its 'business model' is mission delivery under a statutory mandate, with fee revenue treated as a contribution to, not a substitute for, appropriated budget.

Name

National Bureau of Investigation

Legal name

National Bureau of Investigation

Website

https://nbi.gov.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Bureau of Investigation is the civilian investigative arm of the Philippine Department of Justice, founded in 1936. It conducts major-crime investigations, forensic examinations, and issues NBI Clearance certificates through 18 regional and growing satellite offices nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Police Protection (92212)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Biometrics, Medical Exams & Police Clearance Coordination (EDAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Forensics & Evidence Collection (Endpoint, Mobile, Cloud) (BPAKAHAC), Litigation Support & Civil Investigations (Witness/Asset/Skip Tracing) (BPAKAEAE)

Keywords

• Law enforcement services
• Criminal investigation
• Background clearance
• Forensic laboratory services
• Identity verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Manila

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. NBI Clearance Fees: The NBI generates revenue through clearance processing fees charged to the public. Standard clearance fees range from P115.00 to P415.00 depending on service type, with the primary clearance fee at ₱130 plus e-payment service charges. First-time job seekers receive free clearance under Republic Act 11261.
2. Government Appropriations: As a government agency under the Department of Justice, NBI receives annual budgetary appropriations from the national government to fund its investigative and forensic operations.
3. Mailed Clearance Services: Additional revenue stream from processing clearance applications for overseas Filipino workers, including P130 clearance fee plus P70 mailing cost for international delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Bureau of Investigation is the Philippines' civilian investigative and law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice. It issues NBI Clearance certificates, accepts and investigates criminal complaints across specialized divisions, and operates forensic laboratories covering DNA, digital forensics, dactyloscopy, questioned documents, firearms, and behavioral sciences. Its services are delivered through a nationwide network of regional, district, and satellite offices, an online portal, and mailed clearance for overseas Filipinos.

Product overview

The National Bureau of Investigation is a civilian government agency under the Department of Justice providing law enforcement, investigative, and forensic services to the Philippines. Its primary public-facing product is the NBI Clearance and Identification Center, which offers clearance processing and issuance through an integrated multi-channel system comprising: the Official Online NBI Clearance Portal (clearance.nbi.gov.ph) for online registration, application, scheduling and payment; the First Time Job Seekers Portal for free clearance under RA 11261; Mailed Clearance Service for overseas applicants; and a nationwide network of regional, district, and satellite offices for physical processing including biometric capture and clearance issuance. Supporting the clearance core product are investigation divisions (Fraud and Financial Crimes, Cybercrime, Human Trafficking, Violence Against Women and Children, Organized and Transnational Crimes, Homicide, Environmental Crimes, Intellectual Property Rights) and forensic divisions (Digital Forensic Laboratory, DNA, Questioned Document, Medico-Legal, Firearms and Toolmarks Identification, Dactyloscopy, Polygraph and Lie Detection, Forensic Chemistry, Behavioral Science, Odontology, Disaster Victim Identification, Evidential Multimedia).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NBI Clearance Certificate

Quantifiable outcome

• All investigative assistance and services to government institutions and the public are provided FREE OF CHARGE
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Joint anti-smuggling operation resulting in seizure of P1.7-B worth of smuggled cigarettes. BIR collaborates with NBI in enforcement actions against customs violations and tax-related crimes.
• Bureau of Customs (BOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026BOC and NBI conducted joint operations against smuggling, with NBI providing investigative support and enforcement capabilities for customs border protection.
• Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Joint maritime anti-smuggling operations resulting in seizure of contraband shipments. PCG provides maritime enforcement capabilities while NBI contributes investigative resources.
• Royal Norwegian EmbassycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026NBI Director Melvin A. Matibag met with officials from the Royal Norwegian Embassy and Nordic Police Liaison Office to strengthen cooperation against human trafficking and online child exploitation. This partnership focuses on intelligence sharing, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement efforts targeting transnational crimes affecting vulnerable populations.
• Local Government Unit (LGU) of GlanminorOthersNBI extended humanitarian assistance including ₱500,000 in financial aid and relief goods to earthquake-affected communities, demonstrating civic responsibility and community engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Interpol: Interpol is the international organization enabling cross-border police cooperation, intelligence sharing, and fugitive tracking across 196 member countries. NBI acts as the Philippines' primary national contact point for Interpol channels and transnational crime cooperation, including the documented partnership with the Nordic Police Liaison Office.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP): The RCMP is Canada's federal police service with national jurisdiction over criminal investigations, forensic laboratory services, and intelligence. Comparable to NBI in delivering integrated investigative, forensic, and identification services across a nationwide footprint.
• Australian Federal Police (AFP): The AFP is Australia's federal law enforcement agency handling complex criminal investigations, transnational crime, and forensic services with national jurisdiction. Comparable to NBI in scope (criminal investigations, forensics, international cooperation) and structure (centralized investigative divisions operating alongside state/territorial police).
• UK National Crime Agency: The NCA is the UK's lead agency against serious and organized crime, coordinating complex investigations across cybercrime, fraud, human trafficking, and transnational offenses. Comparable to NBI's specialized investigative divisions (Cybercrime, Fraud and Financial Crimes, Human Trafficking, Organized and Transnational Crimes) and its role supporting other law enforcement partners.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The FBI is the US federal investigative and intelligence agency with nationwide jurisdiction, multi-disciplinary forensic labs (DNA, digital forensics, questioned documents, ballistics), a centralized criminal database, and statutory investigative authority. NBI was explicitly modeled on the FBI in 1936 with FBI and NYPD assistance, and the two agencies share direct operational and training parallels in clearance processing, forensic science, and transnational crime cooperation.

Direct peers

• Philippine National Police (PNP): The PNP is the Philippines' primary uniformed national law enforcement agency with nationwide jurisdiction, providing patrol, crime response, and investigations. NBI and PNP operate as parallel national law enforcement bodies under different departments, with overlapping jurisdiction in criminal investigations but distinct specialization (NBI on complex cases and forensic science, PNP on patrol and initial response).
• Eurofins Forensic Services: Eurofins operates one of the world's largest private forensic laboratory networks, providing DNA, digital forensics, questioned documents, toxicology, and crime scene analysis to law enforcement and government clients across Europe. Comparable to NBI's Forensic and Scientific Research Service in scope of scientific disciplines offered and customer base (government and law enforcement).

Emerging players

• DNA Diagnostics Center: A leading private forensic DNA testing provider offering paternity, immigration, and forensic identification services to government and private clients. Comparable to NBI's DNA Division in core technical capability (human identification, biological evidence analysis), though operating under a commercial rather than statutory government model.

Others

• Department of Justice Philippines (DOJ): The DOJ is NBI's parent agency, providing budgetary appropriations and policy oversight. As the supervising department, DOJ determines NBI's mandate scope, leadership appointments, and funding levels, making it the principal institutional counterpart for governance and resource decisions.

Regional players

• Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA): PDEA is a specialized Philippine government agency under the DOJ (same parent as NBI) tasked with drug-related law enforcement. While PDEA's mandate is narrower than NBI's, it shares the same operating context (nationwide jurisdiction, government appropriations, DOJ oversight, civil agency status) and occasionally coordinates joint operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NBIPH
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalBureauofInvestigationOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-bureau-of-investigation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Bureau of Investigation